Let's make them listen now

By Ejimofor Opara

The immediate past state chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, His Youthfulness, Comrade Frank Maduka JP. has advised Anambra youth leaders to use the opportunity of the ongoing electoral process to make the Band and Brandy state government listen to Anambra Youths as no time is more suitable than now.

While addressing a handful of Anambra community, church and student leaders who invited him to a dinner for exchange of ideas and political exegesis, His youthfulness cautioned the youth leaders to avoid pitching tent with any “unconcerned” and “careless” persons, stressing that such individuals, if elected, will end up delegating all sensitive functions to aides who will make the administration dysfunctional. He asked the youths to watch out for Imaginative, Alert and Judicious persons while making their decisions on behalf of Anambra youths.

The prominent youth leader asked his comrades not to miss the opportunity of making the present government keep their empowerment promises to Anambra youths. In his words;

1. We have all been quiet because the noise and shouts in the present administration of the state government will drown our voices and paint use paid opponents of the state government. We know the lies and fabrications but chose to be silent, waiting for the right time. Let’s not forget, that the right time we are waiting for is now, our bullies are facing reelection so they have to make amends now to look good.
2. Have we forgotten all skill training and empowerment promises to our varied members? Please allow me to jog your memories and for the information of some of you who have not assumed office when some these events took place…
3. In February 2015, the state government organized a three week skill acquisition training for five hundred youths at the Technology Incubation Centre Nnewi, they assured the youths of 500,000 naira grant as seed money, it was a well-covered event by the media, many participating youths lost the menial jobs, they had hoped that their prayers have been answered. Upon graduation they were asked to open an account at Ndi Olu Community Bank with 5000 naira each. Till date, no one we know has been given kobo, in fact, the government had to trump up impossible loan conditions to scare our people away.
4. The Anambra State government sometime in August, 2016 organized another youth empowerment scheme tagged Talent Hunt, Ten youths were chosen per local government after stiff competitions, the successful youths were promised 500,000 naira loan each, asked to provide a guarantor of level 12 in the state civil service, as we speak majority of the affected youths have met the conditions but no loan has been given after they opened account at the same Ndi Olu community bank.
5. Same year, in October 2016, about two hundred youths were taken to the Federal youth development centre Mgbakwu for a skill acquisition training, they spent two weeks training in different out dated skills like detergent making, bid making, and on graduation were asked to submit their business proposals, they did but till today no one has been given one kobo, in fact what the government did was to take another batch of two hundred youths to same place around May this year, though this time trained in better skills, they too have submitted business proposals. Well… let’s say it’s too early to say anything. But, none has been given a kobo.
6. Comrades, the aforementioned are the issues we should be more concerned with. The empowerment of these youths should be our immediate aim using this electioneering period as our bait. Let me assure you that whatever we do not get from this government now, we will never get it in the second term…by second tenure “Operation Nebuchadenezzar” will be activated, even the salaries will not come.
7. I am not asking you to support anyone yet, what I am saying is, stand up now, it’s safe to negotiate for your people, our followers are our strength. God has given us the privilege to serve our people and He will grant us more Grace if we use our talents well.

And remember, it is our collective responsibility to institute for ourselves a government friendly with our future. On a lighter note, thank you so much for coming to make an old man feel important and be assured that this old man will be calling on all youth leaders of progress at the right time, but for now, let’s make them listen.

God bless you all for Anambra Youths.